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Dripping Springs takes big hit amid COVID-19 outbreak

Nearly overnight, Dripping Springs, the Wedding Capital of Texas® has been crushed by the COVID-19 virus. Couples planning their upcoming spring nuptials have postponed or cancelled their weddings leaving vendors scrambling to reschedule during what typically is one of the busiest times of the year. The effects of COVID-19 are felt throughout the industry from caterers, florists, to venues and lodging properties. In a recent meeting held by the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau, tourism industry professionals estimated that more than four-hundred employees have been furloughed.

Like many businesses across the country, the deadly virus has changed the business status and structure of major industries of the overall service industry. The small community of Dripping Springs is heavily reliant upon service industry workers and the effects of cancelled events are being felt by the local businesses.

Pam Owens, President and CEO of the bureau said, “Many people who live in this area do not know why we call Dripping Springs the Wedding Capital of Texas. The number of weddings that take place every week, especially in the spring is staggering. It represents a large share of the tourism and travel market in Central Texas. This terrible virus has hurt us all, but we will regroup and help those who were victims of this unanticipated health issue get together and get married. That’s our business and we will work to maintain and support all the services and businesses that have made us the place to get married.”

The event planning business generates $325 billion of direct spending in the USA and helps support more than 5.9 million jobs with $249 billion of labor income, according to an Oxford Economics and Events Industry Council study in 2018. Dripping Springs, the Wedding Capital of Texas, has over 35 venues in a 15- mile radius, over 50 different lodging options, and a menagerie of ancillary professionals such as florists, bakers, makeup artists, hair stylists, musicians, officiants and rental companies. During the spring, the busiest season for weddings, there’s approximately 90 weddings per weekend in the Dripping Springs area.

Kim Hanks, Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau board member and CEO and Co-Founder of Whim Hospitality, said, “_The pandemic is having a devastating impact on the wedding and event communities in Hays County. With the cancellation of all public gatherings with very little notice, hundreds of clients’ events have been disrupted or postponed. We’ve laid off more than 150 employees. We are very anxious to bring them back to work and return to the normal, crazy life we live in the hospitality industry every day.”

In 2015, the Texas House officially designated Dripping Springs as the Wedding Capital of Texas®. Wedding Capital of Texas is a program of the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau.

Wimberley View

P.O. Box 49
Wimberley, TX 78676
Phone: 512-847-2202
Fax: 512-847-9054